PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers’ eye-opening run through what is supposed to be the most challenging part of their schedule continues Monday with a game against a couple of old friends.

For the first time since Paul Holmgren’s dramatic double trades in the summer of 2011, former franchise building blocks Mike Richards and Jeff Carter return to Philadelphia with the Los Angeles Kings.

“Might be pretty weird for them,” said Braydon Coburn, one of only four current Flyers who were active teammates of Richards and Carter during a 2010 postseason run to the Stanley Cup finals. Ray Emery played that season but was inactive for the playoffs.

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“They were here for so long, and we have a lot of great memories, obviously, with those guys,” Coburn added. “It’s going to be fun playing those guys. They’re great players and it’s a good challenge.”

While the Kings don’t seem to be much removed from the team that won a Stanley Cup in 2012, there have been troubling times here and there. Richards, the former Flyers captain so much a part of that Los Angeles championship run, was demoted last week to a fourth line. He scored a goal in a 4-0 win over Florida Saturday, but has just 10 goals and 40 points in 71 games. On the other hand, Carter had a very nice showing for Team Canada in the Olympics, and despite missing 10 games led the club with 24 goals through Friday.

Claude Giroux, just a budding leader in that 2010 playoff dash, expects both of them to bring their best back to Philly.

“They did a lot of good things for our organization, and personally I respect them a lot,” Giroux said. “It’s going to be a good game. They’re a good team, we’re aware of that. When we played them in LA (a 2-0 Flyers win Feb. 1), we got the win but I think they kind of took it to us.”

Maybe so, but there’s no question the Flyers gained momentum off that victory. Starting with that game, the Flyers have gone 12-2-1. And counting.

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It wasn’t announced until everyone had left the building, but the Flyers signed Michael Raffl to a contract extension Saturday. It’s for two years and a total of $2.2 million, which even though he’s a rookie is a real bargain.

Raffl has bloomed into a responsible defensive player and penalty killer, and when given the chance is still an offensive threat. He’s been playing a lot of fourth-line center, but now has a chance to show his scoring prowess because third-line winger Steve Downie is likely out for a while.

Downie has a suspected concussion after skating face-first into the shoulder pad of the Blues’ Patrik Berglund. Downie will be re-evaluated Sunday.

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Wayne Simmonds had another typical work day in the 4-1 win over the Blues Saturday. Outworked the opposition, forechecked ferociously, scored a goal, set up another...

Asked by an admiring media member how he could be so strong on the puck despite having “the skinniest legs in the world,” Simmonds skipped several beats then said: “I don’t know if they’re the world’s skinniest. There’s probably some animals that have skinnier legs than me.”

About the Author

Rob Parent is the Daily Times sports editor. He also covers the Flyers as well as writing an occasional column. Reach the author at rparent@delcotimes.com
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